“I said, O Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), you gave (wealth from the ganima) to so and so and didn’t give it to so and so whilst he is a Mu’min. He (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “Or Muslim”.

He died in the month of Jamadul Akhirah in the year 684 Hijri and he was around 80 years old.

Also Bukhari (no.27 and Zuhri clarified hearing this hadith with him in hadith no.1478) and it has also been narrated by Muslim (no.150)

This narration is a very summarised version. The narration in Sahih Bukhari hadith no.27 is as follows:

Narrated Sa’d (Radi Allahu Anhu), “Allah’s Messenger (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) distributed (the wealth from ganima) amongst (a group of) people while I was sitting there but Allah’s Messenger (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) left a man whom I thought the best of the lot. I asked, “O Allah’s Messenger (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)! Why have you left that person? By Allah I regard him as a faithful believer.” The Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) commented: “Or merely a Muslim.” I remained quiet for a while, but could not help repeating my question because of what I knew about him. And then asked Allah’s Messenger (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), “Why have you left so and so? By Allah! He is a faithful believer.” The Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) again said, “Or merely a Muslim.” And I could not help repeating my question because of what I knew about him. Then the Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “O Sa’d! I give to a person while another is dearer to me, for fear that he might be thrown on his face in the Fire by Allah.”

[UNDERSTANDING FROM THE HADITH]

1. Depending on the context, Iman and Islam can have the same meaning as well as a different meaning. When they are compared and have a different meaning then someone being described as a Mu’min is superior than someone who is being described as a Muslim.

2. You should not say that a particular person is a 100% Mu’min when you do not have a Sharia evidence to back that up.

3. If you have knowledge about a particular thing then you should say it at the appropriate time during a gathering.